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Zakopane Travel Guide for Hikers and Tourists

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Dec. 20, 2019, 10:14 p.m.
2019Hints

Zakopane city is one of the most popular touristic destinations in Poland. Mainly because of marvel Tatra Mountains and excellent hiking trails. Tatras are the most breathtaking mountains in this part of the continent. But Zakopane also has a couple of own attractions that we shouldn't miss.

Zakopane has city rights since 1933. If we try to translate its' name, it means literally: "buried one" or "after the hole". It is currently counting 27k habitants. The Zakopane city is the accommodation base for all tourists planning to hike the Tatras.

In this post, we will include all the essential information you have to know about. Included how-tos for hiking and visiting the Tatra National Park.

Also, we'll list Zakopane's popular attractions beyond the mountains. This guide contains our recommendations which we are deeply excited to share :) We also share some dark secrets of Zakopane :o

Table of contents

Where is Zakopane?

The city is located in Southern Poland right next to the border with Slovakia from South. It belongs to Malopolskie (lesser Poland) voivodeship. The closest major city near Zakopane is Cracow (Kraków) 70 miles to the north. Cracow also has the nearest international airport and offers many options for good transportation between Kraków and Zakopane.

Zakopane is the closest and most significant settlement under the beautiful Tatra mountains from the Polish side. They belong to the Carpathian range - the second-longest mountain range in Europe. As you should know Tatra mountains are laying on the line of two countries Poland and Slovakia - you can pass the border during your hikes or drive around them if you plan to hike from North to South and come back via Taxi/bus to Poland. There is no physical border between Poland and Slovakia as they both belong to the Schengen Zone.

Zakopane has neighbouring settlements also perfect for visiting and staying. They are equally exceptional as Zakopane but smaller and quieter.

Kościelisko - is 3 miles from Zakopane and it's closer to Western Tatras rather than the High Tatras.

Murzasichle - Village bordering with Zakopane - it is the highest located village in Poland closer to High Tatra side.

Małe Ciche - Small village counting 850 people located 5 miles from Zakopane and on the East side of the Tatras (High Tatras).

About Tatra National Park

The mission of Tatra National Park: We protect and help to understand the nature and culture of the Tatras, enabling to experience it by current and future generations.

The most significant advantage of the Tatras is that governors of the National Park protect animals and nature but also maintain all the paths with visible marks and signposts.

Other Pros:

Many paradise-like spots and viewpoints

Excellent hiking paths, visible and colourful route marks, signposts

Well preserved and the wildest nature

Magnificant mountains

World-class rescue service and online weather alerts

Camping and staying on hiking routes of National Park after down is against the rules, beds in mountain huts are limited and require a book in advance. Therefore it is almost necessary to spend the night in Zakopane city for most arrivals. But on the bright-side is the most spectacular viewpoints can is accessible within 1-day hikes (including return time).

There are two national parks in Tatras: one is Tatra National Park of Poland (TNP) and Tatra National Park of Slovakia (TANAP). Since this is an article about Poland side, we will refer to the Polish park. Check the detailed differences in our post about them.

There are also some specific rules in Tatra National Park of Poland we described in details here.

Zakopane popularity

Each year two million tourists visit Tatra National Park of Poland which is half the visits number of very popular Yosemite Park in the USA. Worth to know that one million arrivals visit in July and August timespan. The biggest attractions are magnificent mountains, nature reserve, outstanding folklore, wooden huts and handcraft, well preserved local traditions and culture.

In the past Zakopane was known from best goat cheese production and wisest shepherds in the country. In 1899 the first rail track from Kraków to Zakopane was open. Tourism grows since then.

In the near past access to Zakopane (and Poland) was restricted for most of the nations. Communism government at that time wasn't appealing for anyone, and international tourism almost didn't exist. Luckily the communism ended for good in 1989. In 90s Poland still lacked the infrastructure, hotels and popularity to attract international tourism.

But luckily nowadays Poland being in NATO, the European Union since 2004 and getting the first-class infrastructure like good roads, fast trains, more hotels and business. Zakopane is finally ready for global tourism and remains undiscovered by the worldwide mainstream. So there is a big chance that you have never heard about Zakopane except for internet.

The views and accessibility to the mountains are unlike any other place because you can get to the most exciting places in a 1-day hike, including returns.

We can plan our hike as a circle back to the starting point if possible, return the same way or also hike from the North to the South (Slovakia side) and return to Poland by Taxi or bus.

But you have to get from a hotel into one of Park entries (listed in the section below). It won't be possible to hike right from your hotel to the interesting spots in a reasonable time (with few exceptions).

Before you head into the mountains, you have to have a hiking map. For all the trips we made to the Tatra mountains we always had the map, and it was a big help every single time. It is also good to make your hiking plans. Little preparations based on what weather is expected at the visit time is also good idea.

Where to start your hike near Zakopane?

There are a couple of places where we could start our hike. Given that most of our hikes will be one-day trips, we should start from the National Park entries to save time. To get there, we should use own or rented car, bus or taxi.

Popular entries, including parking space, are:

Chochołowska Valley Parking also is known as Witów Siwa Polana

Entrance located far in the West Tatra of Poland. It is the best starting point for easy hiking to the Chocholoska Polana and mountain shelter. This entry should be usually less popular and less crowded.

Kiry starting pointalso is known as Kościeliska Valley Parking/Entry

West Tatras, one of the main entries on this side of the mountains. Great for waling in the Kościeliska valley. Kiry is a small settlement right next to the Zakopane.

Dolina Strążyska

It is located under the Zakopane and it is a preferred entry for hiking to the Giewont mountain.

Kuźnice - have the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch

Kuźnice is little settlement surrounded by National Park forests. Having quite a lot of parking space and bus stations. The closest location to hike the Kasprowy Wierch or Giewont mountains.

Most popular entrance to the High Tatras giving the best starting point for Morskie Oko and Rysy. It has the biggest parking with 450 parking places. Also, Łysa Polana and Wierch Poroniec parking are backup parking in case Palenica is full.

Shepherds and local sociaty in Zakopane

They are the wisest men in these parts able to predict weather and always eager to share truths about life.

They say that native citizens of Zakopane have rooted the desire to live as shepherds driven by generations of tradition. Many valleys in Tatra National Park are available for shepherds to sustain local traditions and culture to produce best and cleanest cheese called Oscypek.

It is a very difficult work in difficult conditions that Tatra are known for and it requires a lot of strength. Shepards are rewarded with excellent cheese and charming mountains to admire.

Shepherding tradition is very old. Farming wasn't possible due to bad grounds and lack of proper space to be sufficient. They have very characteristic colourful outfits and play or sing during the travel with folks.

One interesting thing is that the culture of this place is very present and vivid. Many locals wear their colourful outfits every day for their own pride or rich traditions and to promote their unique cultural identity.

Most popular places in Tatra for Zakopane tourists

Below we list of located in mountains essential and famous places to add to the journey checklist.

Kasprowy Wierch

Kasprowy Wierch (6519ft / 1987m) it is the most visited mountain of Polish Tatra National Park because it is accessible via cable car. The lift can take people from Kuźnice. It is a thrilling experience and views are staggering. If for some reason you can't hike high mountains you should use the cable car to get to the top of Kasprowy.

Hiking to Morskie Oko

Morskie Oko lake is the most famous places in the entire Tatras. Many travellers consider it also one of the most unique places in Poland. This beautiful postglacial lake is surrounded by the High Tatras - the landscape is amazing!

Hiking to Rysy - the highest mountain in Poland

The Rysy mountain is the highest peak and one of more popular in Poland. The route is considered difficult and steep - it is still doable for inexperienced people in the summertime but they barely make it. We really recommend getting prepared before such an effort.

The route to the Rysy from Zakopane goes via Morskie Oko one of the most beautiful landmarks of the High Tatras. If you feel less fit into hiking very steep slope of Rysy you can just stay at Morskie Oko and enjoy surrounding mountains and nature.

Five Lakes Valley - Moon-like scenery in a 1-day long hike

On the picture Joanna with her sister in the view of Five Lakes Valley near Zawrat

I love Joanna's (co-founder) description of this place: "It's like a moon surface but on earth". So you don't have to wait for Elon Musk space travel agency you can do a 1-day hike from Zakopane in the High Tatras to the Valley of five Ponds.

Zakopane non-hiking attractions - what to do in the city?

Some people say your vacations can be as good or random as the weather you will get. In Tatras weather is of one the most unpredictable kind. If you are interested, you should check our article about weather in the Tatra mountains.

It is essential to prepare for awful weather days when you are our kind or if you love to discover all the exciting places in the city resort of Zakopane.

Zakopane water parks

If you would like to take a break from hiking and try other things to do in the Tatra mountains, you might be interested in the below options:

CHOCHOLOW THERMAL BATHS

The biggest waterpark in southern Poland. Opened in 2016, it offers numerous indoor and outdoor pools with hot thermal water (there are about 30 of them!), many different kinds of saunas, slides, kids zone, SPA facilities, sports centre, restaurants and pool bar.

We especially liked the spacious infrared sauna with big windows from which we admired the panoramic view on Tatra mountains.

If you would like to visit this modern water park and not wasting time in lines, you can get a full access ticket in advance here.

BIAŁKA TATRZANSKA THERMAL BATHS

It's a smaller waterpark than Chocholow Thermal Baths but also a fun place to visit. It offers a few thermal water pools with a beautiful mountain view and several saunas, outdoor. Bialka Tatrzanska Thermal Baths are divided into the quiet and loud zone. The latter one offers water attractions: waterslides, kids fun zone, outdoor pools, waterfalls, etc.

Alpinarium

Alpinarium is a mountain botanical garden. Outstanding place with about 600 types of mountain plants. There are also endangered species and plants which grow nowhere else. It’s a very nice place to let our hair down after hustle and bustle of Krupówki street.

Gubałówka

Gubałówka (3674ft / 1120m) is populated mountain that lays in the north of Zakopane. We can get there on foot from Krupówki street in Zakopane, take an electric tram also from Krupówki or drive there by car. From the top, the view is nice; it includes a panorama of Tatra mountains and entier Zakopane.

There is a few souvenirs shops and bars. We recommend hiking there if you can or take an electric tram otherwise. It is perfect for getting there if we plan to spend the entire day in the city because of a convenient connection from Krupówki Street.

Chochołów open-air museum

Chochołów is a living and functioning village that is also an open-air museum of settlements and folklore. It is located 12 miles from Zakopane but the definite spot we shouldn't miss. The huts were built in the XIX century in local style and are well preserved and used up to date.

Local building style

Another very significant characteristics are beautiful wooden huts with pointy roofs. Probably you will see many of them in random places around Zakopane because in Poland there is no strick area development plan. Many of them are older and some you will find luxuary and brand new all worth to see.

Zakopane dark secrets

Winter smog

Zakopane citizens use coal and wood for central heating in many buildings. Location of Zakopane makes it difficult to naturally ventilate the city, which results in high air pollution during the cold months.

The level of dust in the wintertime is record-high can reach PM10 over 400 µg multiple times - where 200 µg is considered very high.

The problem doesn't exist in the other periods of the year. If we happen to be there in winter, we need to keep checking the air quality with one of online air monitor this is possible (Zakopane has multiple measuring devices installed).

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